Supermarket slashes cost of getting better

A new supermarket price war to cure winter blues is launched today with Asda slashing £85 million off its range of cough and cold remedies.

It comes amid a frantic battle among supermarket giants to grab custom from High Street chemist chains like Boots by cutting the price of everything from health goods to hairspray.

And with Morrison taking over Safeway and promising massive food price cuts, shoppers are about to see some of the biggest ever supermarket price wars.

But Asda's move is also a protest about the bizarre VAT rules governing such products. Shops claim they are left with an accounts headache over exactly what the Government says should and should not be liable to the 17.5 per cent tax.

So Asda is scrapping the equivalent of VAT on over-the-counter medicines.

Asda trading director Angela Spindler explained: "Our customers don't see why they have to pay VAT on essential items such as cough and cold remedies, and neither do we.